Dispenser for collapsible tubes with tube-collapsing rollers and indicator



y 3, 1955 J. A. ROMANO 2,707,578

DISPENSER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES WITH TUBE-COLLAPSING ROLLERS AND INDICATOR Filed Nov. 20, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet l Fig./

James A. Romano INVENTOR.

5 J. A. ROMANO 2,707,578

SPENSER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES WITH TUBE-COLLAPSING ROLLERS AND INDICATOR May 3, 195

Filed NOV. 20, 1952 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig 3 Fig. 2

James A- Romano uvmvrm United States Patent DISPENSER FOR COLLAPSIBLE TUBES WITH TUBE-COLLAPSING ROLLERS AND INDI- CATOR James A. Romano, Cambria Heights, N. Y.

Application November 20, 1952, Serial No. 321,675

2 Claims. (Cl. 222-47) This invention relates to new and useful improvements and structural refinements in dispensers for collapsible tubes, the invention particularly concerning itself with the dispensing of tooth paste, and the principal object of this invention is to facilitate convenient and expeditious dispensing of tooth paste directly onto a tooth 1 brush.

Features of the present invention are the provision of a dispensing device having a pair of rollers horizontally disposed in side-by-side relation therein and in which a collapsible tube may be easily and readily placed with the closed end of the tube between the rollers and having forward means for causing the vertical movements of the rollers to collapse the tube to emit the substance when desired.

The structure of the invention includes a base adapted to support thereon a collapsible tube of tooth paste, together with means carried by the base for collapsing a tube, which means includes a substantially Ushaped frame member supporting a pair of elongated forward rods which carry the rollers used to collapse the tube.

Some of the advantages of the invention reside in its simplicity of construction, in its convenient adaptability to replacement of the collapsible tube when the contents thereof are exhausted, in its pleasing appearance, and in its adaptability to economical manufacture.

These, together with the various ancillary objects and features of the invention which will become apparent as the following description proceeds, are obtained by this dispenser for collapsible tubes, a preferred embodiment of which has been illustrated in the accompanying drawings, by way of example only, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of this dispenser for collapsible tubes;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view of the device showing a tube inserted and ready for use;

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 3--3 in Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional view as taken along the plane of line 44 in Figure 2 and showing in detail the construction of the means for actuating this mechanism;

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view as taken along the plane of line 55 in Figure 2, and showing in plan view the construction of the rollers and the actuating means therefor which engage the collapsible tube;

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional detail showing the construction of the discharge member and the cap therefor; and

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of the dispenser comprising the present invention.

With continuing reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals designate similar parts throughout the various views, reference numeral 10 is used to generally designate this dispenser for collapsible tubes which may be formed from any suitable material, but which is preferably molded for the greatest part out of any suitably synthetic plastic material.

2,707,578 Patented May 3, 1955 The dispenser 10 includes a base 12 having a flange 14 molded integrally therewith for attaching the dispenser 10 to a wall or other suitable surface.

Molded integrally with the base 12 are upwardly extending flanges 16 and 18 to which the legs 20 and 22 of a substantially U-shaped support member are secured. The legs 20 and 22 are secured together by a central connecting upper portion 24. This substantially U-shaped supporting member is preferably made out of metal and re-enforces the actuating mechanisms of the invention. Carried by the flanges 16 and 18 is a shaft 26 which is threaded so as to form worm gears 28 and 30. The worm gears 28 and 36 engage worm wheels 32 and 34 which are rigidly secured on elongated rods 36 and 38 respectively. The rods 36 and 38 are threaded along almost their entire lengths, and are journaled in the base 12 and in the top connecting member 247 A pair of opposed shafts 4t) and 42 are provided and mounted thereon are opposed pairs of worm wheels 44 and 46, and 48 and 50, respectively. The pairs of worm wheels 44, 46 and 48, 50 are adapted to engage the opposite sides of the threaded rods 36 and 38 and to rotate as the rods 36 and 38 are rotated. Mounted on the shafts 4t and 42 are rollers 52 and 54 which are adapted to have inserted in between the collapsible tube which is generally indicated at 56. Retaining members 58 and 6t) join the ends of the shafts 40 and 42 and limit the position of the shafts while holding the worm wheels in engagement with the threaded rods 36 and 38.

Threadedly secured in a threaded aperture in the base 12 is a discharge member 62 which has an externally threaded portion 64 adapted to engage the base 12. There is provided an internally threaded portion 66 at the upper end of the discharge member 62 which is adapted to threadedly engage and retain the discharge end of the collapsible tube 56. A passageway 63 is formed in the discharge member 62. The discharge member 62 is further provided with a leg 70 which provides means to which a cap member 72 may be pivotally attached by means of pins 74. Springs 76 are provided to continuously urge the cap into its covering relationship with the discharge member 62. The casing 78 which may be of any ornamental shape and size as can be determined from the size of the members to be enclosed is provided and rests on the base 12. A knurled wheel 80 is mounted on the end of the shaft 26 at side of the casing 78 for use in actuating the shaft 26.

In operation, with the casing 73 removed, the shaft 26 is rotated, thus turning the threaded rods 36 and 38 and driving the shafts 40 and 42 to their uppermost position. Then, the collapsible tube 56 may be readily screwed in place within the threaded portion 66 of the discharge member 62. Upon rotation of the wheel 80, the rollers 52 engage the collapsible tube therebetween. Then, with intermittent rotation of the wheel 80, some of the contents of the tube 56 will be discharged from it as desired. The cap 72 will provide means for definitely terminating the discharge of the contents while providing means for keeping the contents of the tube 56 fresh. It is to be understood that the threaded rods 36 and 38 are so threaded as to provide a minimum advance for each rotation thereof.

There is provided a suitable slot 82 in the casing 73 and a knob 84 is attached to the extension 86 of the shaft 42. The knob 84 acts as means for informing the user of the position of the rollers and hence, of the quantity of substance remaining in the tube 56.

Since from the foregoing, the constructional advantages of this dispenser for collapsible tube are readily J apparent, further description is believed to be nnneces sary.

However, since numerous modifications will readily occur to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the foregoing specification and accompanying drawings, it is not intended to limit the invention to the precise embodiment shown and described, but all suitable modifications and equivalents may be readily resorted to which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1. A plastic dispenser comprising a base, a substantially U-shaped support member secured to said base, a drive shaft carried by said base, Worm gears on said drive shaft, worm wheels engaging said worm gears, said Worm Wheels being carried by elongated threaded rods, said rods being journaled in said base and said U-shaped member, opposed shafts having rollers secured thereon, threaded means on said opposed shafts engaging said elongated threaded rods for driving said opposed shafts rotating said rollers, and means holding said opposed shafts in spaced relationship and in engagement with said threaded rods, said base having a threaded aperture therethrough, and a discharge member secured to said base extending through said aperture, the axes of said threaded rods and said discharge member being coplanar, a cap pivotally secured to said discharge member and spring means connected to said cap and said discharge member continuously urging said cap to cover said discharge member.

2. A plastic dispenser comprising a base, a substantially U-shaped support member secured to said base, a drive shaft carried by said base, worm gears on said drive shaft, worm wheels engaging said worm gears, said worm wheels being carried by elongated threaded rods, said rods being journaled in said base and said U-shaped member, opposed shafts having rollers secured thereon, threaded means on said opposed shafts engaging said elongated threaded rods for driving said opposed shafts rotating said rollers, and means holding said opposed shafts in spaced relationship and in engagement with said threaded rods, said base having a threaded aperture therethrough, and a discharge member secured to said base extending through said aperture, the axes of said threaded rods and said discharge member being coplanar, a cap pivotally secured to said dis charge member and spring means connected to said cap and said discharge member continuously urging said cap to cover said discharge member, and a casing secured on said base extending over said Ushaped member, a slot in said U-shaped member in alignment with an elongated aperture in said casing and an indicator attached to one of said opposed shafts extending through said slot and said elongated aperture for indicating the position of said opposed shafts and rollers whereby an indication is obtained of the quantity of contents of a collapsible tube adapted to be received between said rollers.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,783,101 Schaefer Nov. 25, 1930 2,064,357 Ritterbusch Dec. 15, 1936 2,140,007 Grandman Dec. 13, 1938 

